Robert Pires put on a brave face despite having seen his hopes of success on both the domestic and World Cup front this season abruptly ended by injury.

The Arsenal star sustained serious knee ligament damage in the Gunners' 3-0 FA Cup win over Newcastle on Saturday and will miss the remainder of their season as well as France's bid to retain the World Cup in Japan and Korea.

But the winger was in philosophical mood after watching his French team-mates prepare for tomorrow's friendly with Scotland at the national training centre at Clairefontaine.

"This hurts me a lot because the World Cup is the biggest of all competitions," said Pires.

"Everything was going fine for me, but I'm not going to cry, that is life, I have to fight."

The 28-year-old revealed that he thought the injury wasn't too serious, and he had even planned a comeback next month.

But club doctors soon spelt out the news that will see him sidelined for at least six months.

"I thought it would be less serious," added Pires.

"I had already had that type of injury while at Metz and I thought it would last only three or four weeks.

"After the further medical examinations I underwent on Sunday, I was full of hope but the medical staff diagnosed a cruciate knee ligament blow which entails an absence of six months.

"I am very tired and the succession of games was probably too high even if I like playing every three to four days. My injury does not make me change my opinion. In all jobs there are risks.

"Maybe I have not been careful enough; when I see the video it was a lack of concentration. I had not been injured before."

Pires added: "I would not mind going to Japan and South Korea in June just to be with my team-mates."